Sen. Bill Nelson, Florida Democrat, said Wednesday that Congress should cut its vacation short to debate a new authorization for military action in Syria.

“We ought to be back in session. We ought to be debating war and peace right now and ultimately voting to give the authorization for the use of military force,” Mr. Nelson said on MSNBC.

While Congress is not doing his job, Mr. Nelson said President Obama has authority under the constitution to strike the Islamic State in Syria and is doing “exactly what he should.

“I think he’s doing exactly what he should: building a coalition,” he said.

Mr. Nelson also emphasized that while the U.S. can provide leadership, training and assistance, it can’t be Americans’ fight.

“At the end of the day this is going to have to be the Arab world and the Muslim world that are going to have to do this fight on the ground. They’re going to have to decide to protect the soul of Islam and Muslim culture. Otherwise it’s going to be taken over by this radical group,” he said.